The most important thing area residents can do to prevent the spread of the coronavirus COVID-19 is to wash their hands often; isolate themselves when sick; and clean high traffic areas like desks, workspaces, telephones, door knobs and light switches daily, an Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) official told leaders of county agencies in a meeting coordinated by the Covington County Emergency Management Agency Thursday.

 City of Andalusia officials were among those in attendance. 

 The coronavirus causes mild to moderate flu- and pneumonia-like illnesses in those young and relatively healthy. But it can be deadly, particularly in those over 60 years old or with pre-existing health conditions. The World Health Organization has declared it a global pandemic. 

 Corey Kirkland, ADPH’s health services administrator for the Southeastern district, encouraged agencies to begin looking at non-essential services and to make decisions about managing crowded areas like car tag lines in the Probate Judge’s office.

 “Could you extend the time for renewals? I don’t know,” he said, adding that these are the kinds of things people need to consider now.

 As of Thursday afternoon, there were no confirmed cases in Alabama, but state public health officials say it is only a matter of time before Alabama. Has a confirmed case. The last public count of the number tested in the state was less than 30. 

 Kirkland said leaders are struggling to find the middle ground of taking precautions, but not disrupting life unnecessarily. He said it’s not time to pull the trigger on emergency measures in Alabama, but agencies should be prepared for that time. Kirkland said the ADPH’s state lab just started Coronavirus testing, and that two private labs also have begun testing for the virus, which has been declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization. 

Kirkland fielded questions about the effectiveness of specific cleaning agents for killing the virus, and was asked for guidelines to use for canceling gatherings. 

 “What I have seen indicated that any household cleaners with agents for killing bacteria and viruses are effective,” he said. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends a solution of 4 teaspoons of bleach per quart of water, and alcohol solutions that are at least 70 percent alcohol for cleaning.

 “Clean workspaces, desktops, chairs and drawer pulls,” Kirkland said, adding that workplaces might consider implementing restrictions on employees sharing things like tape dispensers or staplers for a while.” 

 Frequent handwashing can help stop the spread of the virus, Kirkland said, as can cough etiquette.

Sheriff Blake Turman asked for guidance on how to isolate inmates who are ill, and said he will limit access to the Covington County Jail.

Symptoms of the disease, which appear two to 14 days after exposure, include fever, cough and shortness of breath, according to the CDC.

The Covington County meeting came on the same day that Andalusia Manor Health and Rehabilitation announced it was limiting visitors to the facility to sponsors of its residents, and health care providers like ambulance services, doctors and Hospice nurses.

SalLee Sasser-Williams, director of operations for Sasser Enterprises, told those at the meeting that sponsors will be allowed to visit residents between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on weekdays, and there will be no visitation on weekends.

“Everybody who comes in the door will have their temperature taken, and will be asked the (screening) questions (from the health department),” she said. “We’re doing everything we can to make sure we keep everybody safe.”

The virus is believed to be more serious for the elderly and those with underlying health conditions. 

Kirkland said the ADPH’s epidemiologists were already working to control a Hepatitis A outbreak in Alabama. According to ADPH’s website, statistics updated on March 4 showed 345 cases of Hepatitis A in Alabama.